Healthy Meal Ideas For Families With Toddlers

This chicken Parmesan pasta uses the one-pot pasta method to cook your noodles, chicken and sauce all in one skillet for a fast and easy dinner with minimal cleanup. Finish the dish under the broiler to achieve a delicious melted cheese crust.

One sheet pan is all you’ll need to whip up these zesty chicken fajitas. They’re quick and easy to make and cleanup is even faster!

Two of our favorite comfort-food sandwiches join forces in these family-friendly dinner sandwiches. We found that softer buns make this easier to eat, and it’s all the better when wrapped takeout-style in a sheet of foil.

Chicken cutlets cook quickly and are highlighted with a creamy sauce made with tomatoes, zucchini and Italian seasoning. This recipe is sure to become a new weeknight favorite the whole family will love. Serve it with whole-wheat pasta or rice to make it a meal.

This healthy meatloaf recipe and side dishes are all made in the oven on two sheet pans so that everything’s ready for the dinner table at the same time. The potatoes go into the oven first to start roasting while the mini meatloaves and green beans are prepped and added to the oven partway through.

Don’t limit yourself to lettuce for this low-carb, gluten-free taco lettuce wrap recipe–any fresh green sturdy enough to wrap around 1/2 cup of filling works.

Like sloppy Joes? Then you’ll love this sloppy Joe casserole recipe. This kid-friendly dinner has the classic sloppy Joe flavors kids love, while parents will like all the veggies that are packed in to make it a healthy meal.

These whole-wheat panko breadcrumb-coated pork chops get just as crispy as fried chops, but they’re healthier. Oven-frying saves you fat and calories while producing chops that are crispy on the outside, yet juicy inside. Serve with steamed broccoli and baked sweet potato for a satisfying weeknight dinner.

Homemade mushroom sauce kicks the can of soup out of the picture in this veggie-centric, healthy riff on a classic tuna-noodle casserole recipe. Serve with steamed green beans.

Frozen mixed vegetables make this healthy chicken fried rice recipe quick, easy and economical. If you don’t have leftover cooked rice, be sure to thoroughly cool your rice before adding it to the wok–if it’s too warm, it creates too much steam and sticks to the wok. To quickly cool warm rice, spread it out on a large baking sheet and refrigerate while you prep the rest of your ingredients, about 15 minutes

Instead of deep-frying, the fish fillets in this quick-and-easy 5-ingredient recipe are coated with a flavorful seasoning blend and baked. Several varieties of flaky white fish can be used for these tacos. When you go to the market to purchase fish, the best strategy is to be flexible and choose the variety that looks freshest that day.

This healthy basic beef chili recipe is well worth doubling so you can throw a batch in the freezer. Serve topped with diced red onion, sliced scallions, shredded cheese and your favorite hot sauce.

Fiber-rich sweet potato is used as the base for the cheese sauce in this healthy, homemade macaroni and cheese recipe. The bright orange color tricks your eyes into thinking this healthy macaroni and cheese recipe is loaded with cheese, but there’s actually only about half as much cheese as compared to a traditional recipe.

This rich-tasting but better-for-you creamy chicken soup has a delicious chicken pot pie feel to it. We call for rotisserie chicken to streamline your prep time–look for a nice big one with lots of breast meat on it. Pair this comforting and easy soup recipe with a green salad, or, if you’re really hungry, a grilled cheese sandwich.

Coming up with kid-friendly dinner ideas that are quick and easy to make is an ongoing challenge for most parents. You need recipes that get meals on the table fast and that kids will enjoy eating. We’ve rounded up our best, kid-approved dinner ideas for busy parents that will help you check all those boxes, without all the additives found in take-out and frozen foods.

These awesome family dinner recipes include simple, homemade versions of kids’ menu classics, such as macaroni and cheese, chicken nuggets, fish and chips, pizza, spaghetti and meatballs, chili, and quesadillas. We’ve also included family favorite recipes that make great weeknight meals, including pasta dishes, stir-fries, tacos, and hearty baked casseroles.

Chicken French Bread Pizza

Kids are always up for eating cheesy pizza for dinner, and busy parents will like how easy this nutritious meal is to put together. French baguette slices take the place of pizza crust, and using store-bought rotisserie chicken and pre-shredded cheese makes this dish a fast weeknight solution.

Crock Pot Macaroni and Cheese Recipe

Let this quick and easy macaroni and cheese dinner cook in the crock pot all day, while you go out and have fun with the kids. Everyone will feel relaxed enjoying this family-friendly meal together.

Cornflake-Crusted Baked Cod

You can feel great about serving this oven-baked fish dish with a kid-approved crunchy topping. Children will love this “fish stick-style” dinner, and you’ll love that it has only 5 ingredients, and is baked instead of fried.

Chicken Quesadillas Recipe

Leftover cooked chicken (or a store-bought rotisserie bird) and pre-shredded cheddar cheese make these yummy quesadillas a breeze to prepare. Assemble and heat them quickly on busy weeknights, and serve with nutrient-packed guacamole and salsa.

Easy Chesy Baked Ziti

The name of this tummy-warming dinner pasta bake with jarred spaghetti sauce says it all. It’s easy to assemble, super cheesy with mozzarella, ricotta, and parmesan cheeses, and bakes in your oven in under an hour.

Homemade Oven Baked Chicken Nuggets

Kids can enjoy a favorite fast food treat, while eating healthier, with these homemade chicken tenders that are sure to disappear fast. Bake or fry them with these easy instructions, and serve with rice and vegetables for a complete dinner.

Baked Beans and Hot Dogs with Biscuit Topping

What’s not for kids to love about saucy barbecue baked beans, tender hot dog slices, and cheddar cheese biscuits, all served up in one dish? Make this kid-pleasing casserole in about 30 minutes, for weeknights or birthday parties.

Maple Glazed Pork Chops

Sweet and tangy maple glazed pork chops are full of flavor and protein. Serve them with a side of mashed potatoes and green beans or peas for a complete meal.

Tilapia With Buttery Crumb Topping

Tilapia is a mild white fish that many kids enjoy. They’re sure to like the crunchy, buttery crumb topping in this recipe, which bakes in only 10 minutes. Make it for a quick meal when your day runs late, and serve with rice or mashed potatoes and a simple green salad.

Kitchen Barbecue Chicken

You don’t need an outdoor grill for this finger-licking BBQ chicken recipe that cooks in an electric skillet on your countertop. Combine store-bought barbecue sauce and orange soda to create the zippy, tangy coating that will send you straight back to summertime.

Easy 30-Minute Mexican Enchiladas

You only need a handful of ingredients and 30 minutes to make these tasty Tex-Mex enchiladas on busy weeknights. Feel free to add any leftover cooked chicken or pulled pork from your fridge, if you like, for a protein boost.

Puka Dogs

Take the family on a Hawaiian adventure without leaving home. Puka dogs are grilled Polish sausages or veggie dogs poked into Hawaiian rolls. The recipe includes a sweet pineapple relish and the mango mustard is spicy, but can easily be adjusted to fit your family’s taste

• Air Fryer Chicken Tenders

  

  Air fryer chicken tenders are perfect for busy families. Most of the time involved is hands-off and they reheat nicely. The chicken breasts are marinated in pickle juice then breaded before frying. Serve them with your family’s favorite dipping sauces and a quick side, and dinner is ready!

  Loaded Baked Potato Soup

  

  Kids love digging into this hearty soup that tastes like twice-baked potatoes in a bowl. Its thick, creamy potato base, accented with bacon, sour cream, green onions, and celery, makes a great dinner, with crusty rolls on the side for dipping.

  Instant Pot Beef Stew

  

  An instant pot is an essential kitchen appliance for busy parents. Use it to create a rib-sticking, nutritious beef and vegetable stew that kids will enjoy eating for dinner. Pack leftovers in thermoses for school lunches, along with crackers for crumbling — it tastes even better the next day